North Texas Doctor Convicted in Prescription Drug Conspiracy

A Dallas physician has been convicted of conspiracy to sell illegal prescriptions in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Habiboola Niamatali, 75, of Dallas, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, and Promethazine with Codeine outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.  The jury reached its verdict following a weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, Niamatali used his medical clinics in Garland and Lancaster to sell illegal prescriptions for cash.  The defendant attempted to cover up his scheme by ordering his staff to falsify medical records.  Niamatali was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 10, 2013.
Niamatali was immediately taken into custody following the jury’s verdict.  Under federal statutes, Niamatali faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration – Dallas Tactical Division Squad and the DeSoto Police Department.